Citroen C3
Citroëns C3 Strikes A Chord With Vanessa Hinkley
Its certainly different. Citroens C3 looks like no other supermini and I have to say that I liked it for that. That big face, huge headlamps and pumped up grille certainly give it presence and the egg-shape is practical too. Its a style that
Citroen hope well grow extremely accustomed to but one I cant help feeling will have a particular appeal to women.
Although some have moaned about the plastics quality of the C3s interior, unless you routinely use your cars stereo display cover as a grab handle youll probably be able to live with it. The cabin is certainly adventurously styled which makes a change from all the other makers who seem to be slavishly aping VW Group products. As a result, instead of a dull Teutonic interior, weve got one that goes its own way, light and airy with low window lines and bold, sweeping curves. Rock-hard seating, coalhole colour schemes and a fetish for aluminium inserts have all been forsaken in the quest to provide a functional, non-threatening family car.
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I wasnt that impressed by either the rear
seat legroom or headroom but both the width of the cabin and the space provided by the boot were certainly noteworthy. I quite liked the modular-style boot arrangement too, intended to keep separate items well, separate.
The dashboard has lovely silver-trimmed circular vents that look like something out of Star Wars. Im not entirely convinced by the concept of digital instrumentation, but this layout is clear and easy to read and has a
Saab-style black panel that turns all but the most important functions off if you dont want to be distracted by them at night. More importantly, there are enough bins, cubbies and boxes to make locating a carelessly stowed bunch of keys the work of several minutes. I was pleased to find that ISOFIX child seat mounting points feature strongly and such is the C3s family orientation that an optional Child Pack is available.
No, this isnt a lockable trunk that stows problematic little ones safely in the boot: instead, its a selection of extras that will hopefully offset just such an outcome. A child safety indicator on the dashboard monitors whether seat belts have been unclipped whilst safety locks can be activated or deactivated via a dash-mounted switch. A 12-volt socket at the rear, previously the preserve of MPVs, allows junior to play Gameboys without the ticking time bomb that is a battery failure/high score moment. Aircraft-style trays can be fitted to the back of the front seats with clip-in pen and cup holders and plastic bag hooks.
The greatest feature is probably the simplest. A swing down mirror thats usually stowed behind the standard rear view allows you to keep an eye on the offspring without impeding your forward vision too badly. Clever safety-conscious electronic features have been borrowed from the larger C5 things such as speed-sensitive intermittent wipers with rain sensing activation, hazard lights that deploy automatically under severe braking as well as side airbags ABS with EBD and comprehensive pedestrian safety features. Engines are usually a
Citroen/PSA Group strongpoint and those offered here are no different, even if the corporate plan calls for the 70 and 90bhp 1.
4-litre HDi diesel units to be shared, not only with Peugeots 206 but Fords latest Fiesta. There are also 1.4 and 1.6-litre petrol engined options.
C3 prices start from £9,195 for the entry-level 1.1-litre version or £10,395 for the 75bhp 1.4-litre petrol model, rising through 90bhp 1.4-litre SensoDrive petrol (which is available in economical Stop and Start or XTR faux 4x4 form), 110bhp 1.
6-litre petrol found in the sporty VTR and a couple of 1.4-litre HDi diesel variants to top out at £12,795. Right plumb in the middle of the small car sector in other words, an area of the market which has increased by some 30% over the last five years. Even the affordable L features such equipment as electric front windows, remote central locking, a rake and reach adjustable steering wheel and height adjustable front seats, the Desire brings air-conditioning plus a CD player and the SX adds digital climate control, anti-lock brakes, alloy wheels amongst other features.
Opt for the Exclusive and it appears as if Citroen has covered the car with Bostik and driven it clean through the options list. Theres also an interesting XTR model with various 4x4-style appendages and the economical Stop and Start but the Pluriel convertible was the C3 I had really set my heart on. Maybe another day
I think that I could certainly get used to the unconventional styling. The ride is good, the engines well honed and the width of the cabin is impressive, as is the bootspace on offer. So yes, one could definitely live on my driveway.
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